Starter for explosive-engines.



W. E.` BUCK.

STARTER FOR EXPLGSIVB ENGINES,

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1911.

Patented NOV. 5, 1912.

v 2 SHEETS-SHEET l,

W. E. BUCK.

STARTER POR EXPLGSVE ENGINES.

.aPPLIGATIoN FILED MAR. 11, 1911,

the lstem 15, and the firing-pin is normally held elevated in contact with the lower end of the spring and out of contactwith the cartridge cap by' a spring 18, which has its opposite end thrust against the stem 'cap 17 and shoulder or nut 19 at the outer end of said pin.

Pivoted to the case 2 above the firing-pin 14, as at 20, is an elongated pin-retracting member 21, which has its under side longitudinally channeled with the lower edges of the side walls thereof inwardly flanged to provide 'opposing ledges 22, which terminate short of the firing plane of the pin 14. These ledges are longitudinally curved in the plane of swinging movements of the tiring pin, and, While they may be moved into a position concentric to the arc of movement of the firing pin. are normally heldin eccentric relation thereto by the action of a spring 23 on the short end of the member 21. zVhen the breech-block 6 and attached tiring pin 14 are swung to the left, in the present instance, to uncover the chargechamber 11 the nut or shoulder 19 of the firing-pin coacts with the ledges 22 and moves the member 21 to permit said nut or shoulder to pass beyond the free end thereof, when the member assumes its normal position.' Upon the return movement of the breech-block and pin the nut or shoulder 19 passes over the ledges 22 and the eccentric form thereof causes the pin 14 to be drawn outward or retracted against the tension of its tiring spring 16. llfhen the pin reaches-its firing position vthe mit or shoulder 19 has passed beyond the inner ends of the ledges 22'and the spring 16 imparts a firing movement thereto to explode a cartridge 12 in the head 8, as is apparent.

Threaded or otherwise suitably secured to the lower or outer end of the head 8 in longitudinal register with its bore is a bar- `rel 24, which extends'through an* opening 25 in the bottom of the case 2 and has its lower end open. A piston 26 is located within the upper portion of the barrel 24 and has a stem 27 projecting downwardly therefrom and working through an internal annular shoulder or reduced portion 28 in the barrel 24.l A coiled compression spring 29 normally acts to retain the piston 26 elevated in close proximity to the head 8 and encircles the stem 27 with its opposite ends thrust against the piston 26 and shoulder 28.

Reciproeally mounted within the barrel 24 below the shoulder 28 therein is a hollow ,plunger 30, which/has its upper end open yand receiving the'lower end of the stem 27 which is enlarged within the upper end of the plunger 30, and the upper end of 'the latter is drawn inward or .shouldered over said enlargement as shown at 3l. A coiled compression spring 32 is disposed within the plunger 30 and has its opposite ends thrust the under sides ofv against the outer closed end of the plun er and the enlarged end of the stem 27 to yidl ingly hold sald plunger and stem in longitudinally, extended position, as shown in Fig. 1. The stem and plunger are both normally held retracted within the barrel 24 by the 'action of the spring 29. The outer end of the plunger 30 is shown in the present instance as pivotally connected to an end I or ends of one or more laterally projecting links 33, each of which has spacedconnection longitudinally thereof with the opposite ends of' a brake band 34,- which enc'ircles the fly-wheel or other rotary part 35 of the associated engine. The connection of each link with the plunger and brake-band ends is such that a quick outward thrust ofthe plunger on the link will effect a tightening of the brake-band upon the encircled .part and impartA rotation to such part,- as is apparent. I

Upon a sudden expansion of gases within the barrel 24 above the piston 26, such, for instance, as would be occasioned by the explosion of a cartridge charge, for which the construction shown is adapted, the impact thereof upon said piston will impart a sudden powerful outward -movement thereto against the tension of the spring 29.l This movement of the piston and its stem is imparted to the plunger 30 through the medium-of the sprmg 32, which tends to cushion the sudden impact ofthe plunger 4upon'the links 33 and brake-band 34, and

to lessen the liability of breaking such parts. It is thus apparent 27 and plunger 30 in reality form a single two part plunger, with one of the parts serving as a cushion for the other. I

As the outward movement ofthe plunger part 30 is resisted by the parts to which its outer end is attached it is found quite necessary in practice to provide some means for locking the plunger part 26-27 at the limit of its outestroke so that the spring 132, which was compressed bythe sudden impact thereon of the part 265-27, will exert its full expanding force upon the plunger part 30 to move it outward the fulllimit of its stroke instead of causing a kicking back action 4of plishing this locking action consists in providing the lower end of the piston-stem 27 with an axial bore 36 having the enlarged outer end portion 36, and providing the enl larged lower endportion of said Steur-with longitudinally-extending radial sockets or incuts 37, which are shown in the present instance as being four in number, and as having their lower end portions terminating short of the lower end of the stem and opening into the enlarged portion 36 of the stem bore. Mounted for oscillatory movements within each socket'37 isan angled or substantially L-shaped pawl 38, which has its that the piston 26, stem4 the part 26-27. One means for accomin Fig. 4f..

short arm yprojecting Within the bore 36', and its longarm normall v standing upright, as shown in Fig'. l. To facilitate an assembling of the pawls 3S within their' sockets each rests upon a tulcrum block 39, which is removabl57 mounted in the lower end of its socket 37 wit-h its innei` end hooked downwardly within the bore 36 to prevent an outward sliding ot the block. These blocks have their upper sides rounded and seat within corresponding depressions in the lower ends of the pawls. A' ring 40 is disposed 'within the inner end of the bore '36 and rests upon the upper longitudinally curved sides of the short arms of the pawls 3S to cooperate with the blocks 39 to hold the pawls against vertical movementsfwitlr in the sockets 37, as is apparent. A thrust block 4l is mounted for free reciprocal movements within the socket 3G belw the short arms of the pawls 38, andis adapted to bear at its inner side against the lower inner end portions ot said arms, whereby an inward movement ot 'the block will a'ct on the pawlsto tend to throw the free ends ot the long arms thereof outward, as indicated The block 4l is influenced to normally move inward by the action thereon of a` light tensioned coiled compressionjspring 42, which is disposed within the spring` 32 and has one end thrust against said block and its other against the outer end of the plunger part. 30.

The pawls 3S have their vertical edges projecting within registering slots 43 provided longitudinally7 in the plunger casing' 30, said slots` being ot sutlicient length to permit the pawls to work therein throughout the maximum stroke ol the stem 27 relative to the plunger part 30. Vhen the plunger part or stem 27 has' reached the limit 'ot its out-stroke the long arms of the pawls 38 move into register'with an internal socket or an annular enlargement 44 in the barrel 24 into which the ends` ot the long),I arms ot the pawls are forced bv the action of vthe thrust bloc t 41 and spring l2 thereon, as is apparent by reference to Fig. I4. ln order to e'ltect an automat-ic release of the pawls 38 trom locking` eiigagement with the barrel socket t4-,when thev plunger part 30 has substa ntiall'y reached the limit of its out-stroke.

' I secure a pin or stem 45 axially within the plunger part 30 to the outer end thereof and project its inner or free end through the thrust block fl() and provide an enlarged head '10 thereon Ytor working within the bore 3G ci the plunger part 2T. The head 4G is of suitable size i'or the lower edge thereof to register with the inner ends of the pawls 3.8

and is adapted lto engage therewith and tol move said pawls to retracted positionl as shown in Fig. l, said retracting' movement ot the pawls being completed when the plunger parts 27 and 30 have reached, or

substantially reached, the limit ot their reiative outward movements. It is thus apparent that the plunger part 2T, when at the limit of its out-stroke, is firmlyv anchored against an inward or kicking movement until the plunger part 30 has reached the limit of its out-stroke under the action of the spring 32, when the locking means is automatically released to permit a return ot the plunger parts to normal position within the barrel. In the present instance the relative outward movement of the plunger parts 27 and 30 are limited by the coaction of the outer parts ot the pawls 38 with the inwardly drawn portion 31 at the inner end of the plunger part 30. n

ln the operation ot this form ot inventio-n the operator swings the lneech-bloek G to theleft by a movement of the handle 18 to uncover the outer end of the charge chamber 'll ot the head 8, places a loaded cartridge l2 therein. and then swing-s the breech-block back to its normal position. As the breech-block is swung to open position the nut or shoulder 19 on the tiring-pin passes under the ledges 22 oi the member 21, said member beingmoved against the tension ot its spring;- 23 thereon. and, upon a closingmovement of the breech-block, said nut or shoulder 1f) moves over the ledges '22 which act thereon to retract the Firing pin. Then the lnecch-l'ilock reaches the limit of' its closinpv movement the nut or shoulder 19 has passed from engagement with 'the inner ends ot the ledges 22 and the tiring-pin serine' lt movesthe )in inwardlv with sufr l lthe liability ot' breaking` such parts at a starting` operation. Vr'hen the plunger part 26-27 has reached the limit of its out-stroke the pawls 3S a"e automatically moved into engagement. with the barrel recess or recesses 44 by the thrust action of the block Lll and spring` 42 thereon. l`he plnneer part 2G-,27 is now firmli,IY anchored against an inward movement .sodhat the tull torce of the compressed springr 32 is exerted npon the plunger part 30 to move it to the limit. otl its out-stroke. The force ot movement ot' the plunger and its length ot' stroke are such as to exert a sutlicient turning' t'orco 1upon the liv-wheel or other rotar)Y part. 'to which 1t is attached. to impart several roN tations thereto. lll/'hen the plunger p rt 3o is at substantially the limit of its outward movement the head 46 of the pin 45 moves into engagement with the inner ends of the pawl 38 and effects a retraction of their outer ends from within the recesses 44 of the barrel, thus releasing the plungerv part 26-27 to permit it to return to its normal position under the induence of the spring 29. The barrel Q4 and associated parts are adapted to swing Iwith the trunnions 7 as their axis as the lower end of the plunger follows the are of the Hy wheel in its. out and Ain strokes. When the plunger part 26 is near the limit of its outward stroke or iincovers an opening 47 in the barrel casing it permits the expulsion of the cartridge wads and burnt gases from the tiring chamber.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6, ,50 designates a dash-board or other part to which the apparatus is attached; 51 the barrel which is pivoted to the part for swinging movements and is provided with a head 52 from which a tube 53 projects within the barrel to form the charge-chamber, and into the upper end of which a cartridge 54 may be inserted. A breech-block 55 is swingingly carried by the head 52 and carries the firing pin 56 which may be retracted by hand or in any other suitable manner. The breech block 55 is provided with a handle 57 without the part 50 to facilitate a swinging of the same. A plunger 58 works within the tube or tiring chamber 53 and has its lower end projecting without the lower closed end of the barrel 51 and attached to links 59 to which the ends of a brake-band 60, which encircles a fly-wheel or other rotary part 61 are secured, as described for the preferred forni. A collar or enlargement 62 is provided on the plunger 5.8 for working in the lower end portion of the barrel 51 below the chargechamber 53 and receives the upper endthrust of a coiled compression spring 63, which is located within the lower end of the barrel- 51 and has its lower end thrust against the lower closed end of the barrel. The expulsion of the cartridge wads and vgases ,from the charge chamber is through registering openings 64 in the casing of said chamber and the barrel 51.

It is apparent that the cushion feature of the plunger is absent from this form of the invention. It is found in practice that while this form of the invention will operate to start an engine, it is preferable to use a device employing a plunger having the cushion feature, as the brakeband is thereby relieved of the direct force of the explosion.

vlVhile I have particularly referred to the firing of a loaded cartridge to obtain an eX- lpansion of gases within the charge-chamber,

T do not restrict thc invention in such ics'iect as any suitable means for creating a sudden Huid pi'essurc or expansion of gases of 'a part having4 a within the apparatus for acting on the starting means may be employed.-

I wish it understood that my inventionv is not limited to any specic construction or arrangement of the parts except insofar as such-l1m1tations are-specified in the claims.

' Having thus described my invention, what= I lclaim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is, i f' 1. In an apparatus. of the class described, the combination with a rotatable member', charge chamber therein, a breech-block swingingly mounted on said part and movable to close or uncover said chamber, a tiring pin carried by said breech block, means for operating on the firing pin during a movement of lthe breech-block to chamber closing position to retract said pin and then release it at a predetermined point in its swinging movement to lire a charge, and a plunger guided by said part and having connection with said member, said plunger being movable by an expansion of gases in said chamber to impart rotation in one direction to said member andl having meansfor pushioning the impact of such gases thereon.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a rotatable member, of a plunger having connection wit-h said member, said plunger having a plurality of parts which are capable of limited relative longitudinal movements and having a spring interposed between said parts to cushion the' impact of lone part on the other, said plunger being movable by fluid pressure thereon to store energy in said spring, and the spring then acting to impart the member turning movements to the plunger, and means for preventing a back movement of the plunger while the spring is actingto turn the member.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a rotatable member, of means having connection with said member and being movable by fluid pressure to impart rotation in one direction to said member, said means comprising a plurality of parts capable of relative yielding movements, and means for preventing a kicking back of one of said parts when at the limit of its said movement until the other part has completed its member starting move ment.

f 4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a rotatable member, of means having connection with said'member and movable by iuid pressure to `impart rjotation in one direction to said member, said means having a plurality of parts capable of relative yielding movements, means for automatically locking one of said parts at the limit of its member turning movement,

. parts at the limit of its member turningl Maaate stantially the limit of its member turning movement.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a rotatable member, of a charge chamber, means having connection with said member and movable by Huid pressure Within said chamber to impart-1'0- tation in one direction to said member, said means comprising a plurality of parts capable of relative yielding movements, and means which automatically locks one of said movement ,and releases it- When another art has reached substantially the limit o its member turning movement.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a rotatable part, of a guide part, a plunger having connection With said member and movable in said guide part by fluid pressure thereon to impart rotation in one direction to said member, said plunger having a plurality of relatiyeljT movable parts, and means coperating/'With said parts for locking one at substantially the limit of its member turning vmovement until the other part has reached substantially the limit of its mein/ber turning movement. g

7. In anappaira'tus of the class described, the combination with a rotatable member,ot aguide having a charge chamber, a multiple part plunger having connection with said member and movable inA said guideby fluid pressure created in said chamber to impart rotation in one direction to said member, plurality ofthe parts of said plunger being capable of relative longitudinal yielding movements, and means for locking the part first to complete its member turning stroke at the limit of its stroke and to auto matically release such part when the part of the plunger which is last to complete its member turning stroke has completed such stroke.

8. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a rotatable member, of

a guide having a charge chamber, a plunger having connection with said member and movable in said guide by fluid pressure in said chamber to impart rotation in one direction to said member, said member having a plurality of parts capable of relative longitudinal yielding movements, means movable.

with thel plunger and cooperating with the guide to lock one of the plunger parts at the limit of its outstroke until the other part has reached the limit ot its outstroke.

S). In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movable member, of a guide having a charge chamber, a plunger having connection with said member and movable in said guide by an expansion oi' gases in said chamber to impart movement in one direction to said member, said plunger comprising a plurality of yieldingly cxger part hascompleted its outstroke.

l0. In an apparatus of the class described,

t-he combination with amovable member, ot

a charge chamber, means having connection with said member and movable by an expansion of gases in said chamber to impart rotation in one direction to said member, said means comprising a plurality of relatively movable parts, and mechanism for automatically locking the part of said means which first receives the gas impact at the limit of its member moving stroke and being automatically operable torelease said part when another part of said means has reached the limit of its member moving stroke.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movable member, of a guide having a uid pressure chamber, a

'multiple-part telescopic plunger having connection with said member and movable in said` guide by Huidpressure 1n said chamber to impart movement to said member 1n one direction, means Vyieldingly holding the,

plunger at the limit of its instroke,-a compression spring normally retaining the parts of the plunger longitudinally extended, and mechanism carried by oneplunger part for automatically coperating with the guide to hold such plunger part at the limit of its outstroke until the other plunger part has reached the limit of its 4outstroke.

12. In combination, a guide, aa plunger having a plurality of yieldingly movable parts, -a member movable by such plunger, and means for locking one of the plunger parts at the limit of its member moving stroke until another plunger 4part has reached' the limit of its member moving stroke.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, a plunger guide, a fluid pressure actuated plunger Working in said guide and having a plurality of relatively movable parts which are normally relatively extended, means carried by one of said parts for locking with the guide' to hold the plunger part upon which an impact is first exerted at the limit of its outstroke until the other plunger part has reached the limit of its (mtstro-ke.

lll. In an apparatus of the class described, a guide, a plunger movable in said guide and having aplurality of telescoping parts, a rmmpression spring interposed between said plunger parts to normally hold them relatively extended, pawls carried by one plunger part within the other plunger part and adapted to work through 'said latter plunger y rt and to coperate with the casing to hold the part by which they are carried in one position ot' its movement, means yieldingly acting on s'aid pawls to inuenee their outward movements, andy means mo,vable with one of the plunger parts for. acting on said pawls to draw them inwardly to releasing position when the part to which said means is attached has reached a predetermined point in its movement.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with/a movable member, of a plunger attached to said member and having a plurality of relatively movable parts, a spring normally holding the plunger parts in extended relation and permitting a relative movement of said parts for substantially the full stroke of the plunger for the pur- 15 pose of storing up energy in said spring to impart the full stroke to said member, and means for preventing a back movement of the plunger parts until the member has been turned a predetermined distance.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification in the presence l of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM EMIL BOOK.

Witnesses:

C. W. OWEN, tL'EE GASKELL. 

